Device for indicating an improper putting stroke



Jan. 19, 1965 J. E. MUNDY in 3,156,326

DEVICE FOR INDICATING AN IMPROPER PUTTING STROKE Filed Sept. 7, 1962INVENTOR. ./0///v Ella/v0 ,5 l2

ATTOKPA/EYJ United States Patent 3,166,326 DEVICE FOR INDICATING ANIMPROPER PUTTING STROKE John E. Mundy III, Liberty St., Waynesboro, Ga.Filed Sept. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 222,161 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-186) Thisinvention relates to golf practice devices, and more particularly to adevice for aiding a golfer to increase his skill in putting.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved golfpractice device for aiding a golfer to increase his skill in putting,said device being relatively simple in construction, being easy to setup for use, being relatively compact in size, and serving to guide thestrokes of the golfer to insure trueness of direction thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved puttingpractice device which may be used in any location where there is a fiatsurface on which to place same, either indoors or outdoors, the devicebeing inexpensive to fabricate and assemble, being durable inconstruction, and enabling a golfer to greatly increase his skill inputting in a relatively short time.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claim, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved golf practice deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention. 7

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIGURE 1, showing therelative positions of the golf ball employed with the device and theputter head as it moves through the upstanding guide pin elements of thedevice.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, similar toFIGURE 3, showing in detail the manner of securement of one of theupright pin elements forming part of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a golf practicedevice constructed according to the present invention. The device 11comprises a generally U-shaped fiat base member 12, formed of thinmetal, or the like, and preferably being of relatively heavy gauge so asto have substantial stiffness. As shown, the device has square corners.and is open at one side so as to receive a golf ball, shown at 13 indotted view in FIGURE 1, between the forward portions of the side arms,said side arms being spaced apart by a distance somewhat greater thanthe length of the head 15 of a conventional golf putter. The spacingbetween the side arms of the base 12 is preferably such that there willbe approximately an inch of extra space between each arm and theadjacent end of the putter head 15 when the putter is disposedsubstantially in the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Rigidly secured to the forward portions of the respective side arms,designated at 20, 20, of the base 12 are the upstanding vertical pinelements 14, 14. Rigidly secured in a similar manner to the rear cornersof the body 12 are the additional upstanding pin elements 14, 14, the

pin elements 14, 14 at each side of the body 12 being disposed invertical planes which are parallel to each other, and which are parallelto the longitudinal vertical center line of the body 12, as will beapparent from FIGURE 2. The pins 14, 14' are of substantial length andare secured to the base 12 in any suitable manner, for example, in amanner illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thus, each pin 14 or 14 may be providedwith a reduced end portion 16 which is insertable through an apertureprovided therefor in the body 12 and which is held therein by flaringits bottom end portion outwardly, as shown at 3,166,326 Patented Jan.19, 1965 "ice 17, thus preventing the pin element from being pulled outof the base 12.

Base 12 may be made of any suitable material, such as thin metal, asabove mentioned, or alternatively, of plastic material, hard rubber, orany other durable, substantially rigid material. Likewise,'the pins 14,14 may be made of any suitable material, for example, may be made ofsuitable metal, in which case, the bottom ends of the pin members may besecured in place in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 and abovedescribed.

Where the base 12 is metal and the pin elements 14, 14 are of similarmetal, the pin elements may be welded or riveted in .place. If the base12 is of plastic material, the bottom end portions of the pin elementsmay be molded therein. Various other methods of securing the pinelements in place will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

The length of the pin elements 14, 14' is preferably somewhat greaterthan the diameter of a standard golf ball 13, so that the putter head 15will move in an enclosure whose sides are defined by the respectivepairs of pin elements 14, 14'. Thus, in using the device, the golf ball13 is placed in a position substantially midway between the forward pinelements 14, 14, inwardly adjacent the open side of the generallyU-shaped base 12, in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The putter isthen held so that the head thereof is behind the ball in a position such:as that illustrated in FIGURE 2 and aligned with the intendeddestination of the golf ball, the golf ball being disposed on a linesubstantially perpendicular to the mid point of the putter head andterminating at the destination of the golf ball, for example, at thehole into which the ball is to be directed. The putter is first broughtback slightly and then moved forwardly to strike the ball, the objectbeing to move the putter head in a path of movement intermediate andparallel to the respective vertical planes of the upstanding pinelements 14, 14' at each side of base 12. If the putter head 15 contactsany of the pins 14 or 14' during any part of its stroke, this is anindication to the golfer that his swing is untrue and should be adjustedto avoid any contact with the pins 14, 14'. With continued practice,using the device, the skill of the golfer will be quickly developed sothat he will be able to strike the ball with a straight and true swingand will thus be able to accurately propel the ball to its intendeddestination, namely, the hole into which the ball must drop.

While a specific embodiment of an improved golf practice device has beendisclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood thatvarious modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitationsbe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of theappended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a golf putter, an outdoor golf ball, and a golf puttingpractice device, said practice device comprising a generally U-shapedflat rigid base of generally rectangular shape defining an open-endedenclosure of sufficient width to receive said outdoor golf ball, saidbase having opposed parallel side arms spaced apart by a distancegreater than the diameter of said golf ball, a pair of upstanding pinelements secured respectively to the forward and rear end portions ofeach side arm, said pin elements being of substantially uniform heightand being substantially greater in height than the diameter of saidoutdoor golf ball, whereby the top ends of the pin elements are locateda substantial distance above the head of said golf putter when theputter head is engaged against said outdoor golf ball received in theenclosure, the side arms being separated by a distance such that thereis approximately an inch of extra space between each arm and theadjacent end of the head of said putter disposed transverselytherebetween, said pairs of upstanding pin elements being located inparallel vertical planes spaced apart by a distance only a relativelysmall amount greater than the length of said head of the golf putter,whereby to define an unimpeded guide path for said putter head when saidhead is swung correctly during a full putting stroke commencing in backof the base and continuing until the head comes into contact with saidgolf ball dis posed in the forward portion of said enclosure, the bottomends of the pin elements being substantially flush with the bottomsurface of said flat rigid base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS10/25 Switzerland.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

